Division 1 Men’s Major Metropolitan Pennants Report for 2024

Mid-week training commenced on the first week of December 2024 and we had three preseason matches against Pennant Hills and Richmond throughout January.

 

The team strives every year to represent the club in a positive light by:

• Competing positively for every hole
• Being prepared, confident and forward looking
• Respecting our opponents
• Representing our club with honour
• Having FUN

 

A few years back our playing group defined their vision for men’s pennants as ‘Stonecutters being a competitive Division 1 Club, regularly challenging for the flag’.  We then set short term goals that we worked towards and achieved. The result of those efforts and hard work was last year’s Division 2 flag and promotion to Division 1.

 

Looking forward to the challenge of our first season competing in Division 1 and working towards our vision for the club in men’s major pennants over the coming years, we commenced the season with a refreshed set of goals.

 

Round 1 Match Report

Penrith vs Stonecutters Ridge @ Penrith Sunday 4^th February 2024

At the late tee time of 11.40am our 2024 pennant campaign got underway at Penrith Golf Club. On a day where the conditions reached a sweltering 40 degrees our players and caddies toiled magnificently in the oppressive heat. A dedicated band of supporters also made their way out on the M4 to show their support.

In what was a hotly contested match, with 6 of 7 games going down the 18^th, Penrith won the day by 5 matches to 2. Kade Webber playing 1, with Brent Young on the bag, finished with a 1 up victory. Mitch Norbis at 3 also closed out his match 1up, ably assisted by caddy Sam Kusto, for his first win as a Stonecutters player. 

Overall, an encouraging performance, in our first ever Division 1battle away from home that highlighted the team’s resilience and competitiveness against a Penrith team playing their 4^th consecutive season in the topflight.

 

Round 2 Match Report

Stonecutters Ridge vs Penrith @ Stonecutters Sunday 11^th February

2024

A much more pleasant day greeted both teams in the return bout at Stonecutters. Our boys were well and truly up for some payback for the previous week and to get our first point of the season.

In another cracker of a match, Penrith jumped quickly out of the box    establishing a lead in 4 matches by the 9^th tee with one match all square. Stonecutters then rallied in the middle section of the match and by the 15^th tee led in 4 matches with one other match all square. Some great fight from the Penrith team in the remaining matches saw them secure the day 4 matches to 3 with the last match finishing on 18.

 

Winners for Stonecutters on the day were Kade Webber (c.Brent Young) at 1 with a 3/2 win, Ryan Cadle (c.Les Szkirpan) at 5 with a 4/2 victory and Jacob Carpenter (c.Justin Field) at 7 winning 1up.

Both Daniel Beattie (c.Daniel Williams) at 6 and Kirk Buckley (c.Steve Buckley) at 3, put up great fights with each just missing the bickies on 18.

 

After two weeks, having 9 out of 14 matches go down 18, we stood equal bottom in the section standings with Monash who went down to defending Division 1 champions Avondale 6-1 both home and away. Whilst the group was very disappointed with our first home loss since Feb 2020, when North Ryde got the better of us, the team was encouraged by our competitiveness and fight shown in the first 2 weeks. Penrith’s win was their first ever away win in Division 1 so congrats to them.

 

Round 3 Match Report

Monash vs Stonecutters Ridge @ Penrith Sunday 18^th February 2024

With Mitch Norbis back after a week away, the team were confident heading to the northern beaches of a strong showing against Monash who were mauled by Avondale the first two weeks. A heavy sea fog drifted in and delayed the start of play by 45 mins, giving the home team a nice advantage early. By the 7th tee they had 5 players up and 2 matches all square.

As the fog lifted the Stonecutters crew continued to fight and by the 14^th tee had wrestled back the initiative to lead in 4 matches to the home teams 3. With their backs to the wall the Monash team rallied and despite our best efforts we could not close out an away victory as Monash eventually won the day 5-2.

 

Kirk Buckley (c.Steve Buckley) had a great win at 7 with a 1 up victory and a masterful par on 18. Ryan Cadle (Cuddles) played another great match closing his opponent out 4/2, ably assisted by Les Szkirpan. Our junior development player, Sean Sammons (c.Josh Gillett), played a 20 year member of Monash in the reserve match and despite being 3 down after 3 showed great courage and effort, eventually losing out 5/4. A great effort by Sean.

 

Three matches down and now firmly sitting in 4^th spot without a win meant that next week’s game at home was a must win game.

 

Round 4 Match Report

Stonecutters Ridge vs Monash @ Stonecutters Sunday 25^th February

2024

With the pressure well and truly on, the entire team worked very hard in the days leading up to the match. The team’s determination and preparation were well rewarded early with the team ahead in 6 matches and AS in 1 by the 7^th tee. Our reserve was also well ahead in his contest.

Stonecutters were never headed and closed out the match 5 to 2 lifting us up to 3^rd place on individual games at the end of the day in Section 2.

 

Winners on the day were Kade Webber (c.Brent Young) 3/1@ 1,

Cuddles (c.Les Szkirpan) 3/2 @3, Harry Wilde (c. Matt Smith) 6/5 @4,

Kirk Buckley (c.Steve Buckley) @5, Ryan Suckling (c. Mark Cadle) 2/1 @7, Daniel Beattie (c.Daniel Williams) @Reserve and Sean Sammons (c.Josh Gillett) winning 5/4.

 

Great to have our first match point on the board in Division 1 and a welcome return to home victories after the loss, 2 weeks earlier, against

Penrith. The entire team was now focused on the challenge of the Avondale in the final two weeks of the season. The defending champions continued their domination of the section with wins over Penrith 7-0 and 5-2 to hold an imposing lead with 4 wins and only 4 individual matches lost from 28 contests).

 

Round 5 Match Report

Avondale vs Stonecutters Ridge @ Avondale Sunday 3^rd March 2024

 

The leadership group of managers Steve Wilde and Steve Baird, captain Harry Wilde, Kade Webber and Ryan Suckling had a challenge this week, both from a selection and order perspective, in how to set the team up for success against an imposing rival on their home track. The decision was made to target matches 4 thru 7. Avondale’s top three players contained the 2024 NSW Amateur Champion, and 2 NSW 2024 state rep players with a combined handicap of +15.3 

 

Avondale setup on the day was magnificent and the quality of the course was evident as soon as you rounded the clubhouse to the practice green and 1^st tee. Our team meeting focused on staying in the moment and enjoying the opportunity to compete with the best of the best.

 

The team started solidly and by the 7^th tee we had a lead in 2 matches and another 2 AS with 3 matches being led by the home team. Kirk Buckley (c.Steve Buckley) @7 brought home the first win of the day with a 2/1 victory closely followed by Kade Webber (c.Brent Young) with a 4/2 win @4. The home team rose to the challenge being offered and eventually prevailed 5-2 winners on the day. Whilst we had not ambushed the defending champions, we had proven to ourselves that they were beatable and we could go into our home match next week with confidence. We had 2 close losses on the day with Harry Wilde (c.Matt Smith) going down on 18 @1 and Mitch Norbis (c.Sam Kusto) succumbing 2/1 @6. Special mention to Daniel Beattie @2 (c.Daniel Williams) who went to 16 against state player Jye Picken on his home track and Ryan Suckling @3 who competed hard against NSW Amateur champion, Declan O’Donovan, falling 5/4.

 

Monash secured a home win against Penrith lifting them to equal 2^nd place in the section with 2 points and 13.5 individual games. This left us in 4^th pace with 14 individual games adrift on 1 point. Avondale leading with 5 points and 29 individual games to the good out of 35 played. 

 

Round 6 Match Report

Stonecutters Ridge vs Avondale @ Stonecutters Sunday 10^th March

2024

The leadership group had another tough week trying to sort out order for the final match of the season. With Kade Webber away at the world amateur ranking Riversdale Cup event in Victoria the team was already selected. The equation was simple. A win at home would earn the opportunity to avoid a relegation playoff providing Penrith and Monash did not draw their match at Penrith. How hard could that be against a full strength undefeated Avondale lineup .. easy right. 

Team was finalised and announced on Friday, after much thought and deliberation, and the boys were set and ready to go come Sunday morning.

 

It was a solid start on a gorgeous day with Stonecutters to the good in 3 matches and 2 AS by the 7^th tee. A solid middle section saw 4

Stonecutters players leading after 11 with one match AS and 2 matches in favour of the champions. 

Kirk Buckley @5 (c.Steve Buckley) put the first point on the board for Stonecutters with a solid 5/4 win over Callum Sharp. 

This was followed closely by Jacob Carpenter @7 (c.Justin Field) with a solid 3/2 win over Dom O’Shannessey. Jacob lost the first two holes of the day (pints were involved) before going on an awesome seven-hole winning streak from 6 through 11 to take a 6up lead into 12. Whilst a bout of rough weather did hit his match on 12, accompanied by a multi birdie blitz from his opponent, Jacob closed out his match on 16.

Ryan Cadle (c.Les Szkirpan) @4 was AS after 13 but a strong finish from Avondale’s Riley Millers saw Avondale on the board with their first point of the day and a 3/2 victory.

Avondale number 6, Henry Hesketh, was in a close tussle with Daniel

Beattie (c.Daniel Williams) all day with Daniel holding a one up lead after

11. Searching for his undefeated medal Henry won 3 holes straight to lead Daniel 2 up thru 14 holes. Wins by Daniel on 15, 17 and 18 saw the Stonecutters man bring home his first pennant win in an awesome comeback to get our 3^rd point of the board for the day.

 

Ryan Suckling @2 (c.Mark Cadle) endured a tough start against state player Jye Pickin finding himself 4 down after 7. As always Ryano never goes down without a fight and wins on 10 and 16 pulled the lead back to 2 down with 2 to play but Jye steadied and closed out the second point for Avondale on 17, 2/1.

 

Stonecutters 3 Avondale 2 with two matches left on course. Number 1 Harry Wilde (c.Matt Smith) was playing 15 whilst Mitch Norbis @3 (cSam Kusto) was on 16. 

 

Mitch was facing Avondale’s Will Moody, another Avondale playing looking to win an undefeated medal, and it was a close match right from the get-go. The match was a classic with Mitch being 1 up early then Will taking the lead back by at the 6^th hole. Mitch then went on a 4-hole streak to lead 3up thru 11 before he was hauled back to a one up lead after 13 by the Avondale Club Champion. Mitch held his nerve over the final 5 holes halving all of them to win 1up and give the victory to the home team. 

 

Meanwhile, Harry playing NSW Amateur champion Declan O’Donovan, was fighting hard and faced an uphill task when leaving the 13^th green 2 down. However, birdies on 14, a win on 15 and a birdie on 16 turned the match in favour of our captain. An awesome bunker shot to a foot on 18 secured the win and once again denied a 3^rd Avondale player an undefeated medal.

 

Stonecutters 5 Avondale 2 – What a match. What a result for the players, the caddies, and the club. With nothing more for us to do we just had to wait to see the result from the other match come through to know whether we were playing an extra week in the relegation playoff.

 

To cap of the day our Junior Development player Sean Sammons (c.Len Wicks) won his match against Avondale’s Lewis Abbott 2/1. Awesome effort Sean !

 

Around 4pm word started to filter thru that Penrith had cleaned up

Monash at home 6.5 – 0.5 leaving them in the unfortunate position of going to the relegation match and us with Division 1 secured for the 2025 season with a 3^rd place finish in our section. Completing the day was a great result for our number 1 Kade Webber in coming second in the Riversdale Cup completed another great day in Stonecutters long men’s pennant history.

 

Season Summary

• Played 6 Won 2 Lost 4
• Played 42 Individual Matches, Won 19 Lost 23
• Competed in every match right to the end
• Did the business when it needed to be done
• Against the defending champions 1 match each, 7 matches apiece
• Division 1 secured for Stonecutters in 2025
• We have great supporters
• We have great caddies
• We have great players
• We have a great team
• We have a bright future
• Get Better

 

Over an out for 2024

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